AL EAST

-- Outlook: The Orioles, who improved by 22 games last season, make the great leap forward this season. The Orioles have made fewer than 100 errors in each of the last four seasons, a big-league record. Mike Mussina is Cy Young Award material, lefty Arthur Rhodes conjures visions of a young Vida Blue, and Ben McDonald is out of the alligator-wrestling business and ready to be more than a .500 pitcher. Rick Sutcliffe brought a veteran's touch, and Fernando Valenzuela may bring a touch of magic. Even if Mike Devereaux and Brady Anderson slip, the addition of Harold Baines provides enough depth to win.

--Rookie to watch: John O'Donoghue. A 6-foot-6 lefty, the 23-year-old may be a year away.

--Player on the spot: Cal Ripken Jr. The Orioles' iron man had the fewest home runs (14) and RBI (72) of his career last season; a low-Cal diet may have cost the Orioles a division. He needs a big rebound.

-- Outlook: Hard to believe that the general manager was once known as "Stand-Pat" Gillick. Toronto celebrated winning its first World Series by conducting a garage sale. Bid farewell are DH Dave Winfield, closer Tom Henke, shortstop Manny Lee, left fielder Candy Maldonado, and two-fifths of his rotation, David Cone and Jimmy Key. They did keep outfielder Joe Carter, and added Paul Molitor and Dave Stewart, though they're at an age where they'd be better suited for revival houses than first-run theaters. The pitching is not as strong as it was, but there's enough talent to win a weak division.

-- Rookie to watch: Eddie Zosky. The Blue Jays would like to see Zosky, 25, win the shortstop job, but hedged their bets by signing Schofield.

-- Player on the spot: Jack Morris. Black Jack, 38, won 21 last year but looked vulnerable in the postseason.

-- Job in jeopardy: Ed Sprague is a converted catcher playing third base, and must fend off Luis Sojo and Darnell Coles.

-- Outlook: The Brewers took the Blue Jays to the last weekend of the season in 1992, then permitted Paul Molitor to jump to Toronto. Remember this: With Molitor in the lineup the last 15 years, the Brewers had a .545 winning percentage; without him, they were .445. So what do the Brewers do? Try to steal a pennant. They stole a franchise-record 256 bases, with 11 players having at least 10 apiece. A healthy Teddy Higuera, with Cal Eldred, Jaime Navarro and Bill Wegman, would give the Brewers a formidable foursome.

-- Rookie to watch: Dave Nilsson. The Brewers' catcher played just enough last season to be ineligible for rookie status. The 23-year-old Aussie is recovering from wrist injury.

-- Player on the spot: Kevin Reimer. DH picked up in draft-day trade from Rockies must provide punch in absence of Molitor.

-- Job in jeopardy: John Jaha. First baseman has always put up good numbers in the minors, but struggled (.226) in 47-game trial last summer.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Dave Nilsson Cal Eldred

1B John Jaha Jaime Navarro

2B Bill Spiers Bill Wegman

3B B.J. Surhoff Ted Higuera

SS Pat Listach Ricky Bones

LF Greg Vaughn Reliever

CF Robin Yount Doug Henry

RF Darryl Hamilton

DH Kevin Reimer

DH Tom Brunansky

4. NEW YORK YANKEES

-- Outlook: This is a team that bears watching, even if George Steinbrenner wasn't back in the saddle. If the Yankees can get off to a decent start and keep the front-office meddling to a minimum, this team has enough pitching (Perez, Abbott and Key) and pop (Tartabull, O'Neill) to shake up the division. Steve Howe gives right-handed hitters almost as much trouble (.093) as he gives himself. In the outfield, Bernie Williams may be on the verge of stardom; aging stars Wade Boggs and Don Mattingly still can contribute. A pennant race in September? Don't be surprised.

-- Rookie to watch: Gerald Williams. Rick Down, who managed Williams in Columbus, says he has more tools than Danny Tartabull. Time to show it.

-- Player on the spot: Wade Boggs. Third baseman says he's blocked out all memories of Boston, and is coming here like he's a rookie.

-- Job in jeopardy: Matt Nokes. A big bat in Yankee Stadium (18 home runs), a quiet one (.188) on the road, a defensive liability everywhere.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Matt Nokes Jim Abbott

C Mike Stanley Jimmy Key

1B Don Mattingly Melido Perez

2B Mike Gallego Sam Militello

3B Wade Boggs Bob Wickman

SS Spike Owen Mike Witt

LF Paul O'Neill Reliever

CF Bernie Williams Steve Farr

RF Danny Tartabull Steve Howe

DH Kevin Maas/M. Nokes

5. BOSTON RED SOX

-- Outlook: Red Sox are on the slow road back after finishing last for the first time in 60 years. The acquisitions of Andre Dawson and Ivan Calderon are little more than a holding action while the farm system produces fresh talent. At least, the Red Sox won't suffer through the embarrassment of hitting just 45 home runs in Fenway, like they did in '92. Pitching was better than expected last season. Kid infield, raw center fielder and the usual absence of team speed could make for a long season. But there's always Roger.

-- Rookie to watch: Ken Ryan. Stopper of the future outpitched Jeff Russell in camp, but still is slated for Pawtucket. He'll be back -- count on it.

-- Player on the spot: Andre Dawson. Boston couldn't sign Kirby Puckett or Mark McGwire, so settled on Dawson, 38, and with bad knees.

-- Job in jeopardy: Bob Zupcic. Not enough speed to be a leadoff man, maybe not enough power to keep the job.

-- Outlook: Everything the Indians do this season will be filtered through the tragedy of this spring, when pitchers Tim Crews and Steve Olin were killed and Bob Ojeda seriously injured in a boating accident. GM John Hart has a good thing going here, with young stars like Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle, Charles Nagy, Carlos Baerga and Sandy Alomar contractually committed to the future, one which includes a new park in '94. But with the pitching staff decimated, the Indians will be hard-pressed to match last season's fourth-place finish.

-- Rookie to watch: Dave Mlicki. Mlicki's elbow problems shelved him for most of spring training. Cleveland needs him to recover -- in a hurry.

-- Player on the spot: Sandy Alomar Jr. The Rookie of the Year in 1990 has been plagued by injuries. Has All-Star potential; will he live up to it?

-- Job in jeopardy: Jim Thome. The third-base job is not yet his to lose, but Indians would like to see him hit in the big leagues the way he has in the minors.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Sandy Alomar Jr. Charles Nagy

1B Paul Sorrento Jose Mesa

1B Reggie Jefferson Mike Bielecki

2B Carlos Baerga Dennis Cook

SS Felix Fermin Tom Kramer

3B Carlos Martinez Chad Ogea

LF Albert Belle Relievers

C Kenny Lofton Ted Power

RF Mark Whiten Derek Lilliquist

RF Glenallen Hill Eric Plunk

DH Jefferson/Sorrento Kevin Wickander

7. DETROIT TIGERS

-- Outlook: The Tigers led the major leagues in runs scored last season with 791, almost 100 runs more than runner-up Pittsburgh (693) and were still outscored. The starting rotation had an ERA of 5.08, which explains the additions of Mike Moore, Bill Krueger and Tom Bolton. There's no explaining why Sparky Anderson tinkered with Cecil Fielder's swing this spring, messing the big man up at least temporarily, but any manager's sanity would be tested with this club. Kirk Gibson's back, but not the glory days.

-- Rookie to watch: Greg Gohr. He's one of the hardest throwers in an organization lacking in same.

-- Player on the spot: Mike Ilitch. The latest pizza man to own the club, Ilitch seems committed to winning, locking up Fielder long-term and signing some free agent pitchers. But Tigers need a turnaround, fast.

-- Job in jeopardy: Alan Trammell. A fixture at shortstop forever, Trammell, 35, is just trying to hang on after missing most of '92 with a fractured ankle.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Mickey Tettleton Mike Moore

1B Cecil Fielder Bill Krueger

2B Lou Whitaker Tom Bolton

3B Scott Livingstone John Doherty

3B Alan Trammell Greg Gohr

SS Travis Fryman Reliever

LF Tony Phillips Mike Henneman

CF Milt Cuyler

CF Gary Thurman

RF Rob Deer

DH Kirk Gibson

AL WEST 1. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

-- Outlook: Don't look now, but while the world was watching whether Bo was a go or no, the White Sox were quietly preparing to win the division for the first time since 1983. It would have happened last year, but shorstop Ozzie Guillen blew out his knee in April. The Wizard, AL version, is back, and though GM Ron Schueler may rue the day he let Charlie Hough sign with the Marlins, especially if Dave Stieb is a bust, this is the year Alex Fernandez and Wilson Alvarez step up big-time in support of Jack McDowell.

-- Rookie to watch: Jason Bere. He's probably a year away, but the right- hander throws four pitches with confidence.

-- Player on the spot: Craig Grebeck. He has taken second base away from Steve Sax, who hit a career-worst .236 last season.

-- Job in jeopardy: Bobby Thigpen. White Sox would have dumped their former closer already if someone would take his contract.

-- Outlook: There would be no better story line in baseball than to have Nolan Ryan pitching in the World Series in his last year, with Jose Canseco providing the subplots and soap operas. A more likely scenario: Ryan gets fed up in midseason and quits, and Canseco announces he misses Tony LaRussa. New manager Kevin Kennedy has an awesome everyday lineup, though Texas could use a center fielder and a healthy Julio Franco.

-- Rookie to watch: Benji Gil. Class A player is in Opening Day lineup because of injury to Manny Lee.

-- Player on the spot: Jose Canseco. He and Juan Gonzalez could hit anywhere from 70 to 100 home runs between them.

-- Job in jeopardy: David Hulse. A slap hitter who could develop into a Brett Butler type, if he sticks.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Ivan Rodriguez Kevin Brown

1B Rafael Palmeiro Nolan Ryan

2B Billy Ripken Craig Lefferts

SS Manny Lee Charlie Leibrandt

SS Benji Gil Roger Pavlik

3B Dean Palmer Reliever

LF Juan Gonzalez Tom Henke

CF David Hulse

CF Doug Dascenzo

RF Jose Canseco

DH Julio Franco

3. OAKLAND ATHLETICS

-- Outlook: One former A's player, Jose Canseco, says Oakland has no shot. Another ex-A's player, Walter Weiss, says they can still win the West. The truth? Somewhere in between, which is where we're putting the A's. Six key players remain from the championship teams, including outfielder Dave Henderson, limited to just 20 games last season because of leg injuries. But the A's don't have enough pitching to offset the loss of Dave Stewart and Mike Moore. Even if Stew was on the downside, there's no replacing his heart.

-- Rookie to watch: Troy Neel. He was the leading hitter in the Pacific Coast League last season with a .351 average; he'll DH here.

-- Player on the spot: Bob Welch. A 27-game winner in 1990, Welch has won just 23 games since. At 36, he must become the team's most dependable starter.

-- Job in jeopardy: Rickey Henderson. He's in the last year of his contract, so he'll probably have a monster season, but A's would gladly bid him farewell yesterday, if not sooner.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Terry Steinbach Bob Welch

1B Mark McGwire Ron Darling

2B Lance Blankenship Bobby Witt

3B Kevin Seitzer Storm Davis

SS Mike Bordick Bob Milacki

LF Rickey Henderson Joe Slusarski

CF Dave Henderson Curt Young

RF Ruben Sierra Relievers

DH Troy Neel Dennis Eckersley

4. MINNESOTA TWINS

-- Outlook: Fourth place may be selling this club way short, especially if pitching prospects Willie Banks, Mike Trombley and Pat Mahomes all emerge, easing the loss of 16-game winner John Smiley. Departure of shortstop Greg Gagne to Kansas City hurts even more, leaving left side of the infield unsettled. But Twins anted up the bucks to keep Kirby Puckett and also added Dave Winfield, the greatest 41-year-old DH ever. Will Winfield drive in the deciding run in the World Series, like he did a year ago? Improbable, but manager Tom Kelly gives nothing away to Tony LaRussa in the smarts department.

-- Rookie to watch: Mike Trombley. Former Duke star pitched well in late- season callup and may spoil Bert Blyleven's plans to return to the Twin Cities.

-- Player on the spot: Kent Hrbek. Injuries and age may have robbed Herbie of his home run stroke.

-- Job in jeopardy: Scott Leius. He moves from third to short, where he played in the minor leagues, but is no match in the field for the sure-handed Gagne.

Potential lineup Pitchers

C Brian Harper Kevin Tapani

1B Kent Hrbek Scott Erickson

2B Chuck Knoblauch Willie Banks

3B Mike Pagliarulo Jim Deshaies

SS Scott Leius Pat Mahomes

LF Shane Mack Bert Blyleven

CF Kirby Puckett Reliever

RF Pedro Munoz Rick Aguilera

DH Dave Winfield

5. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

-- Outlook: The Royals are employing a $28 million quick-fix approach to a team that was out of the race by May Day last season after a 1-16 start. They signed an ace pitcher, David Cone, to go 1-2 with Kevin Appier, and created an instant DP combination by trading for second baseman Chico Lind and signing free-agent shortstop Greg Gagne. Then they added some pop this spring by swapping Greg Jefferies for outfielder Felix Jose, late of the Cardinals. If Kevin McReynolds ever awakes from his multiyear slumber, the Royals could challenge.

-- Rookie to watch: Phil Hiatt. Third baseman showed some power in Double A (27 home runs), could rise if Keith Miller stumbles.

-- Player on the spot: Brian McRae. The manager's son has to do better than his .223 average and .285 on-base percentage he had last season.

-- Outlook: Mariners pitching was awful this spring, which does not suggest much improvement over club that lost 98 games last season. And team is worried about Dave Fleming, who won 17 games as a rookie last year but has a bad elbow. But the Mariners have given themselves an energy boost by hiring Lou Piniella to manage, they signed a new ace, Chris Bosio, and traded for a new closer, Norm Charlton, and they have Willie Mays North in Ken Griffey Jr. Piniella will either make a winner out of Randy Johnson or make him his newest wrestling partner.

-- Outlook: Take away Mark Langston and Chuck Finley, and the Angels are worse than an expansion team. Their critics say Jackie Autry is cheap, which is why they lost Bryan Harvey and Jim Abbott. Their few defenders say that after years of trying to win a pennant by throwing around the Cowboy's money, the Angels are looking to build with youth. Anaheim Stadium may be more deserted than the Disneyland parking lot on a rainy day.

-- Rookie to watch: Tim Salmon. Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year in Triple-A gets his chance.

-- Player on the spot: Kelly Gruber. Third baseman arrived as damaged goods; even if he recovers, he may never be welcome.

-- Job in jeopardy: Whitey Herzog. The White Rat, who has seen a lifetime reputation as a master builder suffer here, may just pack it in one afternoon and permanently go fishing in Missouri.